Ruth Harman from Thomas Cook was interested in the history of Poly Travel and Lunn Poly (Travel Weekly October 25).
Poly Travel was founded in 1888 by the Regent Street Polytechnic, (now Westminster University) as the Polytechnic Touring Association, and provided a travel service exclusively for students. In the 1950s, given the popularity of its touring programme, the PTA was renamed Poly Travel Ltd and its tour operating services were extended to the public.
It was in the 1960s, that Sir Henry Lunn or ‘Lunn’s’ which was part of the British Eagle Group, acquired Poly Travel and the company became Lunn Poly. In 1972, Lunn Poly was acquired by the Thomson Travel Group.
The latest edition of Lunn Poly’s Market Update looks at the history of travel in the 20th century, and copies are available from our press office. As well as making entertaining reading, the history report chronicles the founders of LunnPoly: Poly Tours and Sir Henry Lunn, takes a snapshot of the popular destinations of the time, and the cost of a typical package holiday from 1901 until summer 1999.
Natasha Tobin
Lunn Poly Press Office
n Editor’s note: We have received many other letters regarding Ruth Harman’s enquiry which we will forward to her. Many thanks.